The last time Jordan Brand made a women’s performance basketball sneaker, the WNBA was in its inaugural season. Now, the Jumpman boasts a roster of 15 women hoopers, and the WNBA is bigger than ever. Using insights from its star-studded roster, Jordan Brand created the “Heir Series” to cater to the specific needs of the women’s game. The follow-up to 1998’s “Jordan Womens” silhouette reflects today’s game and is the lowest sneaker in the brand’s performance catalog. Like the OG, it follows design language found on other recent sneakers from the brand. The Jordan Womens famously shared details with the Air Jordan 13, which was released in the same year.
The Heir Series design focuses on running and cutting, which is a top priority in the women’s game, according to Jordan Brand. “I love how light they are, how comfortable they are, and I feel like I have a lot of support when I run and cut out on the court,” says Atlanta Dream player and Jordan Brand ambassador Jordin Canada. To accomplish this performance attribute, Jordan used an exterior layer of foam that protects a drop-in Cushlon 3.0 midsole, a rubber herringbone traction pattern, and a flexible cage to prevent ankle rolling.
The release of the Heir Series means more to Jordan Brand athletes than just improving on-court performance. “The biggest thing women’s basketball needs right now is to build on the momentum that we have and think about how we continue to make it very accessible,” says Kia Nurse of the LA Sparks. “I think it’s critical to make it easy for young girls to see who they can be like one day, and basketball can be a driver to unlock people’s greatness.” The $110 price tag reflects the brand’s desire to reach young players. It is currently the lowest-priced performance sneaker from the brand, coming in at $15 less than the Tatum 3. The Heir Series is available in multiple colorways on Jordan.com